WO1986005689A1

WO1986005689A1 - Drug, preparation and use thereof

Info

Publication number: WO1986005689A1
Application number: PCT/KR1986/000008
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chang-Kiu Moon
Original assignee: Moon Chang Kiu
Priority date: 1985-03-29
Filing date: 1986-03-29
Publication date: 1986-10-09
Also published as: KR870700358A; EP0205775A2; GB8607817D0; US4918099A; DE3511609A1; GR860828B; NZ215678A; DK573386D0; ZA862351B; GB2173500A; EP0205775A3; DK573386A; DE3511609C2; AU5527786A

Abstract

A novel drug comprises as active ingredient an extract extractable from plant material of plants belonging to the genus $i(Caesalpinia), one or several components of this extract and/or several substances present in this extract or derived therefrom but prepared synthetically. These substances are in particular benz(b)indeno(2.1-d)pyran derivatives, including brazilin, brazilein, hematoxylin and/or hematein. The drug is especially suited for treatment of a patient suffering from micro-circulatory disorders, diabetes, mellitus, increased blood sugar values, increasing blood platelet aggregation, increased blood viscosity, decreased erythrocyte deformability, disorders of the lysosomal enzyme activity and/or suffering from disorders of the prostaglandin metabolism, especially increasing thromboxane A2? activity.

Description

DRUG, PREPARATION AND USE THEREOF

Technical field The present invention relates to a novel drug comprising as active ingredient an extract extractable from plant material of the Genus Caesalpinia, one or more components of this extract, and/or more substances present in this extract or derived therefrom but not prepared synthetically. A further object of the invention is preparation method of the drug. Another further object of the invention is to provide use thereof.

Background art

The genus Caesalpinia mainly includes tropical plants, especially trees growing mainly in Central and South America and in East Aisa. Representatives thereof are Caesalpinia sappan (sappanwood) , Caesalpinia echinata (brazilwood) , Hematoxylon campechianum (logwood, campechy wood) , Caesalpinia coriaria_, (dividivi) , Caesalpinia braziliensis, Hematoxylon braziletto and the like. It has been known from literature that these woods,, which mostly are of intensive red or blue color, comprise brazilin and/ or hematoxylin, which presumably are glycosidically bonded in the fresh wood. The term "plant material of plants belonging to the genus Caesalpinia" particularly is to include those plants which are capable of synthesizing brazilin and/or hematoxylin. After testing of different woods of the species Caesalpinia, particularly Caesalpinia sappan was used. I have found with intensive study that the extract the genus Caesalpinia has potent pharmacological activites.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention relates to a novel drug. This drug is particularly intended for the treatment of human beings. The invention mainly concern's a drug against diabetes mellitus.

Further, the drug according to the invention is also suited to alleviate svmptoms and ailments occurring in - 2 -

connection with or as a consequence of diabetes mellitus. In this respect, the invention relates to a drug having a prostaglandin metabolism influencing effect, in parti¬ cular an effect inhibiting the formation of thromboxane A_, and thus inhibiting platelet aggregation. Further, the drug according to the invention normalizes the activity of lysosomal enzymes, lowers the blood viscosity and has an effect increasing the erythrocyte deformability. On account of these effects the drug according to the invention can, for instance, be used for the treatment of arterosclerosis, macro and micro-angiopathy and for improving micro-circulation.

Further, the invention relates to a method of preparing the drug. Finally, the invention relates to the use of predetermined substances and mixtures of substances as active ingredients in drugs, in particular in a drug which has a prophylactic and/or therapeutic, effect on micro-circulatory disorders, which can be used as- an anti-diabetic, which has a blood sugar lowering effect, which has a platelet aggregation inhibiting effect, which has blood viscosity lowering effect, which has an erythrocyte deformability increasing effect, which has a lysosomal enzyme activity normalizing effect, which has a prostaglandin metabolism influencing effect and/or which has a selective thromboxane A~ inhibiting effect.

In the following the invention will be explained in particular with regard to the treatment of diabetes mellitus; but this shall not constitute a limittion of the invention. On the contrary, the possibilities of application will be apparent from the following descri¬ ption and from the claims.

Diabetes mellitus is a generally progressing disorder of the carbohydrate metabolism as well as of the lipimetabolism and^: proteometabolism due to insulin deficiency or reduced insulin effectiveness and occurs mainly in the higher age groups (diabetes type II) . Typical symptoms are an higher glucose level in the blood and/or a delayed decrease and normalization of the glucose level after eating. A typical test for early diagnosis is the glucose tolerance test (GTT) . The typical examinations carried out at regular intervals after onset of the disease include the determination of the fasting blood sugar and the postprandial sugar values.

Conventional drugs used for treating diabetes mellitus, so-called hypoglycemic agents, have a blood sugar lowering effect occurring relatively quickly, e.g. within one day after oral administration. When a chronic diabetic dis¬ continues taking such hypoglycemic agents regularly, this diabetic will soon suffer from pathologically high blood sugar values of more than approximately 120 mg/dl.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a novel drug for treating diabetes mellitus.

It is a further object of the invention *to provide a novel drug which permits the reduction of the continuous administration of hypoglycemic agents to diabetics.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel drug which permits the reduction of the continous administration of hypoglycemic agents to diabetics of type II. it is a further object of the invention to provide a novel drug which after a certain period of administration to diabetics of type II permits discontinuation of the administration of hypoglycemic agents.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel drug which has a micro-angiopathy preventing and/or microcirculation improving effect, in particular by inhi¬ biting platelet aggregation, by increasing the erythrocyte deformability, by decreasing the blood viscosity and/or by normalizing the lysosomal enzymes. Finally, it is a further object of the invention to provide a method of preparing this novel drug. According to the invention these-objects are solved by a drug having the composition specified in claims 1, 13, 14, 15 or 16.

Advantageous modifications and further developments of the invention are apparent from the subclaims.

According to a first aspect the invention relates to a drug comprising as active ingredient an extract extractable from plant material of plants of the genus Caesalpinia, one or more components of this extract, and/or one or more substances present in this extract or derived therefrom but prepared synthetically.

The substances present in this extract particularly include brazilin, brazilein, hematoxylin and/or hematein.

Preferably, the drug is formulated as an orally or rectally administrable drug or as an injectable agent, e.g. in the form of a capsule having and extract content or approximately 100 to 700 mg, in particular 250 mg for orally or rectally administrable agents.

Unless specified otherwise, in the following the term "the preparation" will be used for a capsule containing 250 mg of dry, powdery extract whose physiologically tolerated wall material dissolves in the gastro-intestinal tract, where it releases the extract.

Preferably, an agent formulated for injection contains approximately 60 to 120 mg of active ingredient.

This extract has surprising physiological properties.

When the preparation is administered to diabetics 3 times per day-initially together with a hypoglycemic agent whose dose is however gradually decreased and the administration of which is finally discontinued entirely- a slight to good reduction of the blood sugar level will be observed mostly after approximately 14 days following the first administration. When the same dose (3x 250mg

I of extract per 60 kg 'live weight) of the preparation is continuously administered, the blood sugar level will slowly but continuously decrease from one week to the next. After a period of approximately 2 to 12 months after commencement of the treatment, the fasting blood sugar will reach normal values below 120 mg/dl.

After a period of approximately 3 to 24 months after commencement of the treatment, the postprandial glucose value will also reach normal values.

With progressing treatment, the glucose tolerance test will also slowly but continuously yield increasingly better values. When all three tests-without any administration of hypoglycemic agents-have reached normal values, administration of the preparation is continued for another period of 1 to 2 months and then terminated.

Without further administration of the preparation and/or hypoglycemic agents the patients' behaviour will then be normal and symptomfree provided special stress (heavy meals, overindulgence in alcohol and the like) are avoided.

In general, the drug accoridng to the invention is effective with diabetics of type II. With insulin- dependent diabetics (type I) the drug is less effective. With such patients the additional administration of the drug according to the invention frequently permits a reduction of the otherwise required insulin doses. With some few patients there is only little effect; but these patients, too, have reported an improvement of the general awareness of life,

A series of tests have been made under the scope of the present invention in order to gain evidence of the therapeutic mechanism of the drug according to the invention. The active ingredient used for these tests was either the dried, powdery full extract extractable with water from Caesalpinia sappan wood, or brazilin isolated from this extract and/or synthetically prepared braxilin.

These tests comfirm an increase of the peripheral action of insulin; for instance, it was possible to prove an increase of the number of insulin receptors on peripheral erythrocytes.

Based on these results, it seems that the drug according to the invention permits improved utilization of endogenous as well as of administered insulin.

Obviously, this explains why after administration of the drug according to the invention to patients who depend on the administration of insulin the daily dose of insulin required for lowering the blood sugar level can be reduced. It is well known that the glucoronic acid metabolism is activated with diabetics. Since the activity of the lysosomal enzymes (such as e.g. σC - mannosidase, c -and -glucosidase,^ -galactosida^'se, .6 -glucuronidase, n-acetyl- fi -D-glucosaminidase and the like) is not normal, especially is reduced, glycoproteins are deposited on the basiiiar membrane. This is regarded as one of the reasons of known chronic complications of diabetes mellitus, such as e.g. angiopathy (including micro and macro-angiopathy) , arteriosclerosis and the like. The above investigations confirm an improvement of these complications after administration of the drug according to the invention, which may possibly be attributable to an inhibition of the platelet aggregation and/or a normalization of the lysosomal enzyme activity, of which evidence has been found. This effect depends little of not at all on the blood sugar level.

It is well known that diabetics have an increased thromboxane A_? level, in particular due to the activity of the thrombocytes. An increased thromboxane A-level contributes to the development of arteriosclerosis and impairs the micro-circulation by stimulating the platelet aggregation. Conventional prostaglandin synthesis i inhibitors such as e.gi acetylsalicylic acid of indome- thacin inhibit the activity of cyclo-oxygenase; it is true that the desired thromboxane synthetase inhibition is achieved therewith, but prostacyclin synthetase is also undesirably inhibited thereby. However, the drug according to the invention selectively inhibits only the formation of thromboxane A_? without inhibiting that of prostacyclin. Thus, the drug according to the invention permits a controlled influence on the prostaglandin metabolism in the sense of an inhibition of the thrombo¬ xane A_ formation. This effect was proven by means of an inhibition of the formation of malonic acid dialdehyde, wherein no influence on the formation of prostacyclin could be observed. It is well known that malonic acid dialdehyde is produced from PGG-,(H- and thromboxane A~ .

Further, diabetics typically suffer from a reduction of the erythrocyte deformability and an increase of the blood viscosity. With diabetic rats having these symptoms a significant increase of the erythrocyte deformability and a significant decrease of the blood viscosity as compared' with the control group could be observed after administration of full extract from Caesalpiniasappan or after administration of brazilin.

According to a second aspect the invention relates to a method of preparing the drug according to the invention.

The active ingredient'Of the drug according to the invention is an extract which is extractable from plant material of plants belonging to the genus Caesalpinia and comprises one or several components of the extract and/or one or several substances present in this extract of derived therefrom but prepared synthetically. The genus Caesalpinia mainly includes tropical plants, especially trees growing mainly in Central and South America and in East Asia. Representatives thereof are Caesalpinia sappan(sappanwood) , Caesalpinia echinata (brazilwood), Hematoxylon campechiamun(logwood, campechy wood) , Caesalpinia coriaria (dividivi) , Caesalpinia braziliensis, Hematoxylon braziletto and the like. It has been known from literature that these woods, which mostly are of intensive red of blue color, comprise brazilin and/or hematoxylin, which presumably are glucosidically bonded in the fresh wood. The term"plant material of plants belonging to the genus Caesalpinia" particularly is to include those plants which are capable of synthesizing brazilin and/or hematoxylin. After testing of different woods of the genus Caesalpinia, particularly Caesalpina sappan was used. For obtaining the extract, one may start from fresh or dry plant material, preferably wood. Most preferably heart wood is used. The wood is chopped, e.g. rasped, and then extracted with a solvent. Common solvents are used such as e.g. water, low alcohols (such as e.g. methanol, ethanol and propanol) , diethyl ethers, further high-boiling ethers (such as e.g. tetrahydrofuran and dioxane) , aliphatic ketones (such as e.g. acetone of methyl ethyl ketone) , aliphatic hydrocarbons (such as e.g. n-hexane or cyclohexane.) , chlorinated hydrocarbons (such as e.g. carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, dichloromethane) acetylacetate and the like.

With regard to the solubility extraction is preferably carried out with a hot solvent; for instance, the slurry of the wood particles in the solvent may reflux-cooked.

On an industrial scale, extraction with a cold solvent would also be possible, in particular when a prolonged period of extraction(e.g. several days) is provided. The solubility can also be increased by increasing the pH.

A period of extraction of several hours is suitable. To the once extracted wood, fresh solvent can be added and the extraction can be repeated once or several times. Then, the resultant liquid extracts are mixed. Finally, the solvent is removed and a dry residue is obtained which suitably is pulverized. Particularly good results are achieved on boiling out with water; this extraction method is preferably applied. 1 part by weight of finely resped wood, especi¬ ally wood of Caesalpinia sappan, is mixed with approxima* tely 10 parts by weight of neutral, deionized water and boiled with free access of air for 6 to 8 h. Subsequently, the water, which has a deep brown-red colour, is drained off and the already treated wood pulp is boiled out with the same quantity of water 1 or 2 further times. The extracts are mixed, and the water is removed; suitably this can be carried out by evaporation on the hot water bath or by freeze drying. A dark-red, dry residue in an amount of approximately 2 to 10% of the wood weight is obtained. In the respective residue(full extract) brazi- lin and brazilein and in the full extract of some plants additionally hematoxylin and hematein can be detected by column chromatography and/or by high-pressure liquid chro- matography(HPLC) . The residue(full extract) is pulverized, and the resulting power can be formulated directly in this form to an orally of rectally administrable of to an injectable drug. Preferably, capsules having a power weight of 250 mg are produced according to common galenic methods.

Figure 1 shows an I.R. spectru (KBr pellet) in the wavenumber range of 3000 to 800 cm of the dark-red power obtained after boiling-out of sappan wood with petroleum ether.

Figure 2 shows a corresponding I.R. spectrum of the dry full extract obtained upon boiling-out of heartwood of caesalpinia sappan with water.

Depending on the strating material, the extract contains approximatery 1 to 5% by weight of brazilin and/ or brazilein. Obviously the quinoid form of brazilein is obtained by oxidation by air under extraction conditions. From other woods such as in particular Hematoxylon cam- pechianu a lower amout of brazilin is obtained, whereas the amount of hematoxylin and/or hematein obtained is largaer. ^' Test results show that the administration of synthetically prepared brazilin or synthetically pre¬ pared hematoxylin substantially has the same effects as the administration of major amounts of the full extract. Therefore, it is assumed that at least one of the active components of the full extract is a benz(b) indeno(2.1-d) pyran derivative of the following structure type (I and II, respectively)

3 ^R4

wherein

R-,R₂, and R_fi may be the same or different,and represent a hydrogen group, a low alkyl group, preferably methyl grou , an acetyl group, a benzyl grou , or R, and R- together form a ethylene group;

R-, and R-, may be the same or different, and represent a hydrogen group, hydroxy group of acetyl group;

R. represents a hydrogen group, hydroxyl group,low alkyl group, preferably methyl group, an acetyl or benzyl grou ; and

---—-—■ Represents a single or a double bond.

The main pharmacologically active substances represented by the above general structural formula in particular include the following compounds:

1) Brazilin, viz. j

7.llb-dihydrobenz (b) indeno(2.1-d)pyran-3,6a, 9,10(6H)tetrol OH

OH

2) Brazilein, viz.

6a, 7-dihydro-3, 6a, 10-trihydrobenz (b) indeno (2.1-d) pyran-9 (611) on

OH

3) Hematoxylin, viz. 7. llb-dihydrobenz (b) indeno(2.l-d)pyran-3,4,6a, 9,10 (6H)pentol

OH 4) Hematein, viz.

6a,7-dihydro-3,4,6a,10-tetrahydroxybenz (b) indeno (2.1-d) yran-9(6H) on

OH

5) O-triacetylanhydrobrazilin

6) O-trimethoxyindenocoumarin OCH.

7) O-trimethylanhydrobrazilan

. OCH-,

8) O-triacetyl-cis-brazilan

Ac

H

9) Bis(O-triacetyl-cis-brazilan-4-yl)

H

wherein R=0-acetalcisbrazilan-^'4-yl 10) 7-hydroxy-5' ,6'-methylenedioxyindeno(2' ,3' ;3,4) coumarin

wherein

or CHJ_,

11) Derivatives of brazilin

R.

Trimethylbrazilin: R-_-R₂-R₆-CH₃ R₃=OH

Trimethylacetylbrazili :

Benzylbrazilin : R =R =R_fi=benzyl R-,=OH

Benzylacetylbrazilin : R- =R₂=R_fi=benzyl R-,=oAc

12) Desoxytrimethylbrazilin

13) Isobrazilin ferric chloride trimethyl ether

14) Trimethylbrazilon

15) Trimethylbromodesoxybrazilin

Hematoxylin (C₁₆H₁₄O_g.3H₂0, MW 302.29+54.05) and brazilin (C,_gH, .0,., MW 26^*8.29) are known substances, are commercially available (e.g. from FLUKA Feinchemikalien-GmbH, NeuUlm) and have been used especially for tinting cell preparations. Occasionally, physiological effects have also been described in scientific literature.! For instance, brazilin and hematoxylin are said to have an anti-inflammatory effect (Planta Med. 31, 214-220 (1977). An antibacterial effect has also been described (Rev. Latinoam. Microbiol. 1, 225-232 (1958) . More recent discoveries have shown that brazilin and hematoxylin have an effect on the lipid peroxidation in the mitochondria of rat liver (Arch. Pharm. Res. 1_, 63-64, 1984) or a plasmali- pidreducing effect on spontaneously hypertensive rats (Fette-Seifen-Anstrichmittel, 8_7_' PP- 74-76(1985)). However, so far no drugs containing these substances have been known.

According to a third aspect the invention concerns the use of predetermined substances and mixtures of substances as active ingredient in a drug. These sub¬ stances and substance mixtures are particularly suitable as active ingredient in a drug against diabetes mellitus. Further, these substances and substance mixtures are suitable as active in gredient in a drug which has a prophylactic and/or therapeutic effect on micro-circulatory disorders, which can be used as an antidiabetic, which has a blood sugar reducing effect, which has an platelet aggregation inhibiting effect, which has a blood viscosity lowering effect, which has an erythrocyte deformability increasing effect, which has a lysosomal enzyme activity normalizing effect, which has a prostaglandin metabolism influencing effect and/or which has a selective thromboxane ₂ inhibiting effect. In this sense, the invention relates to a method of treating a patient who is suffering from the mentioned diseases, symptoms and/or disorders, the treatment con¬ sisting in that an effective quantity of the substances ;^•. and substance mixtures specified in the following is administered to the patient.

The substances and substance mixtures which can be used in this sense include :

A) Extracts isolable from plant material of the plants belonging to the species Caesalpinia, including the full extracts isolable from the wood of Caesalpinia Caesalpinia coriaria, Caesalpinia braziliensis and Hematoxylon brazilleto. Preferably, the extracts obtainable by boiling-bout with water are used. Most preferably, the full extract is used which is obtain¬ able by boiling out wood of Caesalpinia sappan with water. Further, mixtures of full extracts can be used which have been isolated from different plant of the species Caesalpinia. Benz (b) indeno (2.1-d)pyran derivatives having the follow¬ ing general structural formulae (I and II, respectively)

wherein

R, , R- and Rr may be the same or different, and represent a hydrogen, a low alkyl group, preferably methyl group, an acetyl group, a benzyl group, or R-. and R₂ together form a methylene group;

R, and R₇ may be the same or different, and represent a hydrogen group, hydroxy group or acetyl group;

R. represents a hydrogen group or an oxo group;

R-. represents a hydrogen group, a hydroxyl group, a low alkyl group, preferably methyl group, an acetyl group or a benzyl group; and represents a single or a double bond.

The suitable benz (b) indeno(2.1-d)pyran derivatives particularly include the above-specified main pathologi¬ cally active compounds (1) to (15) , including brazilin, brazilein, hematoxylin and^' hematein, brazilin being parti¬ cularly preferred. The extract which is specified in (A) and which is enri¬ ched with one or several benz(b)indeno(2.1-d)pyran derivatives mentioned in item (B) , including brazilin, brazilein, hematoxylin and/or hematein, in particular brazilin.

The following test results serve for further explanation of the invention.

I. Preparation of Total Extract

Heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan was chopped. In the reflux apparatus 1 part by weight of wood was respcti- vely extracted with 10 parts by weight of solvent for approximately 6 h. Petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol, methanol or water was used as solvent.

Subsequently, the solvent was removed by evaporation. If necessary, the wood pulp which has once been extracted may be extracted for a 2nd or 3rd time. The resultant dry, red-brown residue was pulverized and weighed. They yields obtained are shown in the following Table I, in which the percentages relate to the quantity of wood used.

T a b l e 1

Extraction with Yields of Full Extract ₍%₎

Petroleum ether 0.08

Chloroform _Q -

Ethanol _2#50 Methanol _3<00

Water 7.30 Figures 1 and 2 show I.R. spectra (of the KBr pellet) of the petroleum-ether full extract (Figure 1) and the water full extract (Figure 2 ) in the wave-number range between 3000 and 800 cm^" . Further wood samples were extracted with boiling water and the solvent was removed by freeze drying. In this case the residue was obtained already in the form of a fine powder so that extra pulverization was unnecessary.

The resultant residues were subjected to further frac- tionation by different chromatographic methods (thin-film chromatography, column chromatography,high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) , gel filtration and the like; the fractionation always started with less polar solvents and then stronger polar solvents were used. By comparison with commercially available samples of brazilin and hematoxylin the presence of these substances in the full extract could be identified.

In the following tests the full extract obtained upon extraction of wood of Caesalpinia sappan with water was used. By means of known galenic methods capsules having a content of full extract of 250 mg or 500 mg and being provided with a shell which dissolves in the gastro-intestinal tract were produced from the powdery, red-brown residue.

Clinical Observations: Case 1 :

The patient (male, age: 50, size: 166 cm, weight: 66 kg) had been treated for diabetes mellitus for 1 year. An oral, hypoglycemic agent (Diabines, a sulphonyl urea derivative) was administered to him. For 14 days a dose of 500 mg of full extract was additionally administered to him 3 times per day. Within the observation period of 44 weeks a dose of 500 mg of full extract was continuously administered to him 3 times per day. Thejdevelopment of the blood sugar values is shown in the following Table 2 (FBS representing the fasting blood sugar value and PC2hBS representing the postprandial blood sugar value 2 h after eating) .

T a b l e

Weeks 0 2 6 8 10 12 14 16

FBS 90 120 90 105

PC2hBS 100 130 95 110 115 130 85

Weeks 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32

FBS 120 110 90 60

PC2hBS 100 96 108 124

Weeks 34 36 38 40 42 44

FBS 95 98 80

PC2hBS 110 110 118 105

In the course of the observation period the glucose tolerance test (GTT) also improved markedly. Case 2 :

The patient (male, age: 38, size 171 cm, weight: 62 kg) had been suffering from diabetes mellitus for at least 1 year and been treated with insulin. At the beginning of the obser¬ vation period the dose amounted to 56 units of NPK insulin,it was continuously reduced (32 units in the 2nd week, 16 units in the 4th week, 8 units in the 6th week) and finally admini- stration thereof was entirely discontinued in the 8th week. In the course of the entire observation period of 24 weeks a dose of 250 mg of full extract was administered to the patient 3 times per day. The development of the blood sugar values is shown in the following Table 3.

T a b l e 3

Weeks 0 2 6 14 16 18 12 24

⁴ !

FBS 105 110' 90 115 115 140 115

PC2hBS 220 190 160 130 210 125 Case 3 :

The patient (male, age : 40, size: 170 cm, weight : 66 kg) had been suffering from diabetes mellitus for at least 5 years. Initially, for 18 weeks full extract was administered to him as the sole medicine. In the 18th week administration of the preparation was discontinued. Control examinations took Place in the 40th dand 54th week. The blood sugar values found are shown in the following Table 4.

T a b 1 e 4

Weeks 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 40 5-_

FBS 195 160 115 125 90 125 80 100 90 85 .11

PC2hBS 380 205 110 210 90 120 115

Figure 3 is a graph of the analysis of the glucose tole^{* *} ranee test (GTT) in the 1st,15th and 40th week for this atient,

Case 4 :

The patient (male, age: 46, size: 173 cm, weight: 58 kg) had been suffering from diabetes mellitus for at least 1 yeat. initially, for 24 weeks a dose of 500 mg of full extract was administered to him 3 times per day as the sole medicine. Thereupon, administration of the preparation was discontinued, and control examinations were made at regular intervals in the course of the following 1.5 years. The blood sugar values found are shown in the following Table 5.

T a b l e 5

Weeks 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

FBS 160 120 110 110 90 90 105 85 90

PC2hBS 170 95 100

Weeks 20 22 26 40 56 72 88 104

FBS 95 80 100 80 90 90 80 80

PC2hBS 100 1 Case 5 :

The pateient (male, age: 41, size: 174 cm, weight: 54 kg) had been suffering from diabetes mellitus for at least 4 years. For a period of 12 weeks a dose of 500 mg of full extract was administered to him 3 times per day' as the sole medicine. Thereupon, administration of the preparation was discontinued, and up to the 35th week control examinations were carried out at regular intervals. The blood sugar values found are shown in the following Table 6.

T a b 1 e 6

Weeks 0 2 4 8 10 16 22 28 35

FBS 145 120 105 90 100 110 80 105 PC2hBS 200 115 140 100 105 105

By the 28th week the patient's weight had increased from initially 54 kg to 65 kg and remained unchanged from then on.

Figure 4 is a graph of the analysis of the glucose tolerance test (GTT) in the 1st, 12th and 34th week for this patient.

Case 6 :

The patient (male, age: 34, size: 165 cm, weight:55kg) had been suffering from diabetes mellitus for at least 1 year. During the observation period of 22 weeks a dose of 500 mg of full extract was administered to him 3 times per day as the sole medicine. The blood sugar values^' found are shown in the following Table 7.

T a b l e

Weeks 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22

FBS 155 150 150 140 130 120 105 100 130 105 115 110

PC2hBS 340 220 195 135 110

I In the course of the observation period the patient's weight increased from initially 55 kg to 60 kg. The extraordinarily fast normalization of the blood sugar value is remarkable.

Blood Sugar Lowering Effect of Brazilin

By intraperitoneally administering streptozotocin (70 mg 5 per 1 kg body weight in 0.1 M of citrate buffer solution, pH 4.0) diabetes was induced in SD rats. 20 days after the injection of streptozotocin the blood sugar values of the laboratory animals were measured. The hyperglycemic rats were divided into two groups, viz. into a control group and a test 10 group. For 10 days a dose of 110 mg of brazilin per kg body weight was daily administered to the animals of the test group_* Then, the blood sugar values were measured again. The results are shown in the following Table 8.

i_> T a b l e 8

Blood Sugar (mg/100 ml)

20 days after on- 30 days after on¬ set of diabetes set of diabetes

Diabetic rats 280 + 26.8 337 + 45.6

25 Diabetic bra¬ zilin treated 266 + 16.7 165 + 42.7 rats

Normal rats 79 + 22.2

30

Normal bra¬ zilin treated 77 + 20.3 rats

It will be apparent that the brazilin treatment led to a significant lowering of the blood sugar values. Increase of the Peripheral Insulin Action

Diabetic mice were divided into a control group and a. test group. A dose of 100 mg of brazilin per kg body weight was daily administered to the animals of the test group ; instead of brazilin, the same amount of saline solution was injected intraperitoneally to the animals of the control group.

After 30 test days, the body weight of the animals of the test group was higher and the blood sugar values of these animals were lower as compared to those of the diabetic animals of the control group.

One the 30th test day, the animals were made to fast for 5 h; thereupon, they were injected intravenously with 0.46 mU/g of NPH insulin. Then, the blood sugar values were measured at respective intervals of 5 in.

The results determined are shown in the graph of Figure 5 (each point shown therein corresponds to a mean value of five measurements) .

It will be apparent that this small dose of NPH insulin cannot significantly change the blood sugar value of the diabetic mice (control group) , whereas in the mice of the test group (treated with brazilin) a marked decrease of the blood sugar values could be found.

For interpreting these findings, further tests were made with the aim to find out .whether brazilin changes the affinity of the insulin receptors or can possibly increase the number of the insulin receptors.

For the laboratory animals of the above-mentioned control group (diabetic mice) and the test group (diabetic brazilin treated mice) erythrocytes (2.6 x 10 9/ml) were taken, 125I- insulin was bound thereto (85 pM 125I) , and thereupon incubated in the presence of increasing amounts of unlabelled insulin

(32 pM to 1.8 urn) at 15^αC for 120 min. The amount of specifi- cally bound 125I-insulin waIs then determined by subtracting the non-specifically bound insulin- (10 ng/ml) . The ^" results obtained are shown in the graph of Figure 6. Figure 7 shows the scachard analysis of the binding values. One has to conclude from the largely similar characteristic of the decrease of the specifically bound, labelled insulin for the laboratory animals of the control group and of the test group that there are no, at least no significant affinity differences but that the increased peripheral insulin action occurring upon treatment with brazilin is due to an increase of the^* number of the peripheral insulin receptors.

It is believed that this is why upon additional administration of brazilin or full extract the dose of insulin required by a diabetic can be reduced. In this sense, brazilin or full extract can- be used as a substitute for the known sulphonyl urea derivatives or a supplement to the treatment with hypoglycemic agents, e.g. on the basis of sulphonyl urea derivatives. Action of Brazilin on Postreceptor Defects

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is frequently accompanied by insulin resistance. Frequently an impaired insulin action is also observed with strepto¬ zotocin induced diabetic rats. Such an insulin resistance is particularly also attributed to post- receptor defects.

With (a) untreated (normal) control animals (rats) ,

(b) diabetic rats, and (c) diabetic brazilin treated rats glucose oxidation and lipogenesis were investigated

(by means of the esterified lipids and the. free fatty acids) . Diabetes was induced by intravenous administ¬ ration of streptozotocijn (40 mg/kg live weight) . Brazilin was administered intraperitoneally for 15 days

(100 mg/kg body^' weight) . Within the same period the same volume of saline solution was administered to the untreated animals of the control group.

For determining the effects of brazilin administration on the glucose oxidation, the method described by Winegard

14 et al. (j. Biol. Chem. 233, 267 (1958)) was used, using C

14 glucose (1- C-glucose) . The results obtained are shown in the following Table 9.

Formation from rats incubated with

Laboratory Glucose **CO~ (nmol/lOOmg tissue/120 min)

Animals B^~asal^" I_τnsul,i.n st.i.mul,at.ed*

Normal 172.8 + 21.4 (9)** 694.2 + 86.0 (9)

Diabetic 109.1 + 8.4 (10) 236.6 + 28.4 (8)

D Diiaabbeettiiccs _{156>6 + 14>7}a⁾ ₍₈₎ 303.1 + 19.0^b) ₍8₎. brazilin

Remarks

*) Insulin concentration : 25 ng/ml **) Number of laboratory animals a) P< 0.01 vs. diabetic control group b) P<0.1 vs. diabetic control group

As shown in Table 9, basal production of C0₂ was impaired in the fat pads of diabetic rats. With these diabetic labora¬ tory animals the initial C0₂ production (= control group) can be restored to 74.6% by additionally administering brazilin. In the insulin stimulated state the action of brazilin is reduced. 14.5% of the initial C0₂ production are restored. The effects of additional brazilin administration on lipogenesis were determined by means of the esterified lipids and free fatty acids formed from 1- 14C- glucose. The measure- ents were carried out according to established methods.

The results obtained are]shown in the following Table 10 and ; ^: T a b l e 10

14 Formation of C-containing, esterified lipids (E.L.)

14 in fat pads isolated from rats incubated with 1- C-glucose

(37 C, 120 min)

Glucose—.E.L. (nmol/100 mg tissue/120 min)

Laboratory

Animals *

Basal Insulin stimulated

**

Normal 220.8+ 11.9 (10) 528.0 + 17.8 (10)

Diabetic 78.8+ 7.7 (10) 276.5 + 20.-8 (9)

D DiiaabbeettiiccH+ ₁₁₃.₉₊ 9.5^a) (10) 326.2 + 18.4^b) (9) brazilin

Remarks : *) Insulin concentration : 25 ng/ l **) Number of laboratory animals a) P< 0.01 vs diabetic control group b) P < 0.1 vs diabetic control group

I will be apparent that with diabetic laboratory

14 animals much less C from the labelled glucose was found in the esterified lipids than with untreated laboratory animals of the control group. After all, with diabetic laboratory animals the initial production of esterified lipids from the labelled glucose (= control group) can be restored to 24.7% by additionally administering brazilin.

In the insulin stimulated state brazilin also has a comparable effect. 19.8% of the initial production of esterified lipids were restored. T a b l e 11

14 Formation of C-containing free fatty acids (FFA) in fat pads isolated from rats incubated with 1- 14C-glucose

(37 C, 120 min) Glucose-_? FFA(nmol/100 mg tissue/120 min)

Laboratory Animals Basal Insulin stimulated

**

Normal 3.18 + 0.53 (6) 8.42 1.06 (6) Diabetic 2.60 + 0.85 (6) 3.73 0.39 (6)

Diabetic+ 0.43^a) (6) 3.39 ⁱ (6) brazilin 1.83 + + 0.76^b

Remarks :

*) Insulin concentration : 25 ng/ml O **) Number of laboratory animals a) , b) No statistically significant differences vs diabetic control group

Both in the basal and in the insulin stimulated state, 5 less C from the labelled glucose is found in free fatty acids of the diabetic laboratory animals.as compared to the untreated animals of the control group. In none of the two cases additional administration of brazilin has any signifi¬ cant effect on the production of free fatty acids. 0 Influence on the Prostaglandin Metabolism 1) Platelet aggregation inhibiting effect of brazilin and hematoxylin

The platelet aggregation was determined by a tubimetric method in a dual-channel aggregometer, assuming that a " platelet-poor plasma represented 100% aggregation and that a platelet-rich plasma represented 0% aggregation. Each aggregometer tube was charged with 40 ul of platelet-rich plasma and 50 ul of test sample solution. The mixture was incubated at 37 C for 2 min, whereupon 50 μl of ADP solution 0 were added. Percent inhibition of the platelet aggregation caused by the test sample solution was calculated as follows

, , Inhibitor induced percent aggregation _{) x ]}__{QQ (}%₎ ADP induced percent aggregation 5 - 28. -

The following Table 12 shows the effects of an addition of brazilin or hematoxylin on the platelet aggregation of human diabetic plasma induced by 2 ;uM ADP.

T a b l e 12

Effect of brazilin and hematoxylin on the platelet aggregation in diabetic human plasma induced by 2 μM ADP

Tmax T/min

Cone. (M) Aggregation Inhibition Aggregation Inhibition (%) (%) (%) (%•)

Control 78.7 100 78.7 100 Brazilin

10 -3 46.3 58.8 41.2 8.75 11.1 88.9

Hematoxylin

10-3 52.5 66.5 33.5 7.5 9.5 90.5

Acetylsalic lic aacc:id

The following Table 13 shows by means of an analogous . test the effects of brazilin and hematoxylin on the platelet aggregation in normal human plasma.

T a b l e 13

Effect of brazilin and hematoxylin on the platelet aggregation in normal human plasma induced by 2 μM. ADP Tmax T/'min

Cone. (M) Aggregation Inhibition Aggregation Inhibition

( %) (%) (%) (%)

Control 75.1 100 75.1 100

Brazilin ιo^"3 31.5 41.8 58.2 21.1 28.1 71.9 ιo^"4 60.7 80.1 19.9 34.8 46.4 53.6

Hematoxylin

10 10^**3 22.6 30.8 69.8 11.7 15.6 84.4 lO^"4 68.1 90.6 9.4 58.8 58.8 21.7

Acetyl- salicylic acid

15 lO^"3 37.5 49.9 50.1 11.9 15.8 84.6

10^"4 60.2 80.1 19.9 17.4 23.2 76.8

The test results confirm a considerable inhibition of the platelet aggregation by the presence of brazilin or hematoxylin. It will be apparent that brazilin and ^*20 hematoxylin have an effect on the prostaglandin meta¬ bolism, presumably an inhibiting effect on cyclooxygenase, phospholipase - and/or thromboxane synthetase. 2) Inhibition of malon dialdehyde (MDA) production-without detectable influence on the prostacyclin production-by 25 brazilin

Thromboxane A„ is the potent substance inducing platelet aggregation. MDA is formed through the same enzyme system as thromboxane A₂. Inhibition of MDA production may be due to the following factors : 30 1) inhibiting action on phospholipase A-,,

2) inhibiting action on cyclooxygenase,

3) inhibiting action on thromboxane synthetase.

If an inhibiting action on MDA is detectable but no significant influence on the prostacyclin production can 35 be detected, a selective inhibiting action on thromboxane ₂ may be inferred.

Rats were divided into four test groups, viz. Group A : Normal rats (10 laboratory animals) Group B : Normal rats (8 laboratory animals) o which an aqueous brazilin solution (comprising 110 mg of brazilin per kg body weight) was daily administered from the 20th to the 30th day Group C : Diabetic rats (8 laboratory animals : for inducing diabetes, a dose of 70 mg of 0 streptozotocin per kg body weight in 0.1 M of citrate buffer solution (pH 4.0) was administered intraperitoneally to normal rats on the 1st test day) Group D : Diabetic rats (10 laboratory animals) : 5 for inducing diabetes, a dose of 70 mg of streptozotocin per kg body weight in 0.1 M citrate buffer solution (pH 4.0) was admini¬ stered intraperitoneally to normal rats on the 1st test day. From the 20th to the 30th 0 clay of the test aqueous brazilin solution

(comprising 110 mg of brazilin per kg body weight) was daily administered orally to these diabetic rats.

(Instead of an a queous brazilin solution, the - same amount of distilled water was administered to the laboratory animals of the groups A and C from the 20th to the 30th day.) After expiration of the 30th test day, the test animals were sacrificed, and the MDA production was determined by means f thrombin stimulated platelets. The results obtained are shown in the following Tables 14 and 15.

Group Body weight Blood sugar mg lOOml MDA (nmol/10 platelets) on 30th day on 20th day on 30th day Thrombin Thrombin Thrombin 5.0 I.un. 1,0 I.un 0_T2 I.un.

A 222+17.2(g) 79+22.2 5 16+2.44 2.46+0.92 4.16+2.04

B 226+24.4(g) 77+20.3 2 20+0.58 1.02+0.48 0.58+0.30

C 185+24.4(g) 280+26.8 337+45.6 6 26+1.36 3.38+0.71 2.86+0.36

D 206+9.61(g) 266+16.7 266+16.7 2 22+0.35 1.10+0.33 0.76+0.21 I

VJ

a b l e 15

Laboratory Animals (rats) 6-Keto PG F. (ng/mg)

Normal 0.18 + 0.03

Normal + brazilin .0.17 + 0.02

Diabetic 0.19 + 0.02

Diabetic + brazilin 0.18 + 0.03

It will be apparent that brazilin has an inhibiting effect on MDA production; no influence on the prostacyclin production could be observed. Therefore, this may be due to an inhibiting action on the thromboxane synthetase. VII. Normalizing Effect on Lysosomal Enzymes

Possibly, the lysosomal glycosidases active in the kidneys are involved in the micro-angiopathy accompanying diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the lysosomal glycosidase activities upon administration of brazilin and full extract were examined.

A number of mice was divided into three groups. Group I, which was used as control group, remained untreated. To the rest of the mice diabetes was induced by administering alloxan. Part of these diabetic mice remained untreated (diabetic control group II) ; to the rest of the diabetic mice a dose of 100 mg of brazilin per kg body weight was administered daily. After a test period of 10 and 30 days,, respec ively, kidney tissue was taken from the laboratory animals and the enzyme fraction was determined. In particular, incubation was carried out for 30 min at 37^"C, the reaction was stopped by adding 0.05 M glycineNaOH buffer solution (pH 10.4), centrifu- gation was carried out at 3000 U/min for 10 min, and the amount of p-nitrophenol formed per min and per mg of protein was determined spectrophotometrically at 410 nm at the supernatant. The results obtained are shown in the following Table 16. a b l e 16

Duration of Enzyme Group I treatment Group II Group III

after N-acetyl-, "-D- glucosaminidase 64.51+4.59 D

52.93+3.55 60.68+3.84 10 days

<-mannosidase 8.72+i.Ol A 8.60+1.51 12.49+1.34

,'^l-galactosidase 11.53+2.81 E

14.74+1.97* 12.33+1.95

Λ-giucosidase 4.05+0.59 3.63+0.71 4.62+0.75 D

, '-glucosidase 1.25+0.13 1.49+0.31^J 1.86+0.30 E

'-glucuronidase 4.82+0.69 3.33+0.41^∑ 4.02+0.65 D

after 30 days N-acetyl-/⁵-D- 65.11+5.37 57.95+2.25 67.79+4.06 glucosaminidase

A

•^-mannosidase 6.57+0.15 5.69+0.32' 5.99+0.54

/'-galactosidase 8.90+1.26 7.39+1.35* 10.28+0.55^

••^-glucosidase 3.76+0.62 3.33+0.36 4.12+0.40 "-•-glucosidase 2.54+0.35 2.74+0.21 2.95+0.20 β -glucuronidase 2.26+0.21 2.31+0.13 2.49+0.25

Remarks : a-f ; group I vs. group II

A-F ; group II vs. group III

5 a , A; p / 0 . 001 b ,B ; p < 0 . 005 c , C; p 0 . 01 d , D ; p< 0. 025 e , E ; p< 0. 05

10 f , F ; p< 0 . 1

It will be apparent that the administration of brazilin has a normalizing effect on the lysosomal glycosidase activity. This aspect of the biological activity of brazilin may play an important role in ^J-5 preventing diabetic micro-angiopthy.

Similar results were obtained upon administration of full extracts from different plants of the species Caesalpinia. Further, these effects were found not only with alloxan induced diabetic mice but also with strepto- 20 zotocin induced and with spontaneously diabetic mice. VIII. Reduction of Blood Viscosity and Increase of Ery¬ throcyte Deformability Increased blood viscosity and reduced erythrocyte deformability are typical pathological states of diabetic 25 subjects. The effect of brazilin administration to diabetic laboratory animals (rats) on the blood viscosity and erythrocyte deformability of these animals was examined.

The laboratory animals were divided into four groups; viz. 20. 1) untreated laboratory animals (normal) ;

2) normal brazilin treated laboratory animals (normal + brazilin) ;

3) merely diabetic laboratory animals (diabetic)..-; and I

35 4) diabetic laboratory animals treated with brazilin (diabetic + brazilin) . For administering brazilin, the laboratory animals were daily injected intraperitoneally with a dose of 100 mg of brazilin per kg body weight for 10 days. For inducing diabetes, a dose of 175 mg of alloxan per kg body weight was administered intraperitoneally.

The blood viscosity was determined by means of heparini^* zed blood samples relative to distilled water at 37 + 0.5 C.

The time interval required by 2 ml of liquid to pass between 0 two points of a narrow glass capillary was determined. The results obtained are shown in the following Table 17.

T a b l e 17

Effect of brazilin on the blood viscosity of untreated 5 rats and diabetic rats

Laboratory animals Viscosity (cP)

Normal 1. 45^{a )} + 0 . 08 0

Normal + brazilin 1. 40 + 0 . 06

Diabetic 1 . 62 + 0 . 09^{b )}

Diabetic + brazilin 1. 52 + 0 . 07^{c )}

Remarks : b a) each value represents a mean value of six measurements b) P*χ 0.01 vs. normal control group c) P\ 0.05 vs. diabetic control group

It will be apparent that with diabetic laboratory animals 0 the blood viscosity was significantly increased (P< 0.01) . No statistical differences were found between the blood vis¬ cosities of untreated laboratory animals (normal) and normal brazilin treated animals. But brazilin treatment of the diabetic laboratory animals led to a significant decrease 5 (P< 0.05) of blood viscosity. These results justify the conclusion that long-term treatment of diabetics with brazilin has a normalizing, i.e. lowering effect on the typically pathologically increased blood viscosity of diabetics.

For determining the erythrocyte deformability,the filtration rate of blood of the various laboratory animals containing approximately 4.9 x 10 12 erythrocytes per 1 was determined under common, standardized condi¬ tions. The results obtained are shown in the following Table 18.

T a b l e 18

Effect of brazilin on the erythrocyte deformability of untreated and diabetic rats

Laboratory animals Filtration rate (ml/min)

Normal 22.9a) + 0.3

Normal + brazilin 23.a + 0.3 Diabetic 17.4 + 0.1b) Diabetic + brazilin 19.6 + 0.4c)

Remarks : a) each value represents a mean value of six measurements b) v.0.01 vs. untreated control group c) P <0.01 vs. untreated and vs. diabetic control group. It was found that^" brazilin has no effect on erythro- poesis. The blood of alloxan diabetic rats had a significantly lower filtration rate (P _0.01) than that of untreated rats; with regard to the test conditions a reduced erythrocyte deformability has to be inferred therefrom. Brazilin treatment did not signficantly influence the filtration rate of the blood of the other¬ wise untreated control group. But with diabetic animals brazilin treatment caused a significant increase of the filtration rate; this has to be regarded as an indication of increased erythrocyte deformability. These results justify the conclusion that long-term treatment of diabetics with brazilin has a normalizing, i.e. increasing effect on the typically pathologically reduced erythrocyte deformability.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A drug, wherein said drug comprises as active ingredient an extract extractable from plant material of the plants belonging to the genus Caesalpinia, one or several components of this extract and/or one or several sub¬ stances present in this extract or derived therefrom but prepared synthetically.

2- A drug having

- a prophylactic and/or therapeutic effect on icro-cir- culatory disorders,

- an antidiabetic effect,

- a blood sugar lowering effect,

- a platelet aggregation inhibiting effect,

- a blood viscosity lowering effect, - an erythrocyte deformability increasing effect,

- a normalizing effect on the lysosomal enzyme, and/or

- an effect influencing the prostaglandin metabolism, in the present case in particular a selective throm- boxan ₂ inhibiting effect, wherein said drug comprises as active ingredient an extract extractable from plant material of the plants belonging to the genus Caesalpinia, one or several compo¬ nents of this extract, and/or one or several substances present in this extract or derived therefrom but prepared . synthetically.

3. A drug effective against diabetes mellitus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said drug comprises as active ingredient an extract extractable from plant material of the plants belonging to the genus Caesalpinia, one or several com¬ ponents of this extract, and/or one or several substances present in this extract or derived therefrom but pre¬ pared synthetically. |

4. The drug as claimed in claim 2. wherein said exLract is obtainable from wood of Caes¬ alpinia sappan", Hematoxylon campechianum,Caesalpinia echinata, Caesalpinia coriaria, Caesalpinia brazili- ensis and/or Hematoxylon braziletto. 55. The drug as claimed in claim 2, wherein said extract is obtainable from wood of Caesalpinia sappan.

6. The drug as claimed in claim 4, wherein said extract is obtainable by boiling-out 10 of the wood with water for several hours.

7. The drug as claimed in claim 2, wherein said active ingredient is a benz (b) indeno(2.1-d)pyran derivative represented by the following general structural formula (I)

20 R ,R and R, may be the same of different and represent a hydrogen group, a low alkyl group, preferably methyl group, an acetyl group, a benzyl group, or R, and R~ together form a methylene group; R., and R_ may be the same of differnt, and represent

---^■ a hydrogen group, hydroxy group or acetyl group; . represents a hydrogen group or an oxo group; R-. represents a hydrogen group, a hydroxy group, a low alkyl group, preferably methyl group, an acetyl group or a benzyl group; and

30 represents a single or a double bond.

The drug as claimed in claim 2, wherein said active ingredient is a benz (b) indeno(2.1-d)pyran derivative represented by the following general structural formula (II)

wherein

R, and Rr may be the same or different, and represent a hydrogen group, a low alkyl group, preferably methyl group, an acetyl group, a benzyl group, or , and R_g together form a methylene group;

R-. and R_ may be the same or different, and represent a hydrogen group, hydroxyl group or acetyl group;

R. represents a hydrogen group or an oxo group,¹

R- represents a hydrogen group, a hydroxyl group, a low alkyl group, preferably methyl group, an acetyl group

> or a benzyl group; and represents a single or a double bond^'.

9. The drug as claimed in claim 2, wherein said active ingredient is brazilin or brazilein.

10.The drug as claimed in claim 2, wherein said active ingredient is hematoxylin and/or hematein.

11.A method of preparing a drug having

- a prophylactic and/or therapeutic effect on micro-cir¬ culatory disorders,

- an antidiabetic effect,

- a blood sugar lowering effect,

- a platelet aggregation inhibiting effect,

- a blood viscosity lowering effect,

- an erythrocyte deformability increasing effect,

- a normalizing eff ct on the lysosomal enzymes, and/or

- an effect influencing the prostaglandin metabolism, in the present case in particular a selective throm- boxane A₂ inhibiting effect, wherein plant material of plants belonging to the species Caesalpinia is extracted with a solvent, said solvent is removed, and 5 the solid residue is formulated to a drug.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein wood of trees of the genus Caesalpinia comprising brazilin and/or hematoxylin is extracted.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11,

10 wherein wood of Caesalpinia sappan, Hematoxylon campechianum, Caesalpinia echinata, Caesalpinia coriaria, Caesalpinia braziliensis and/or Hematoxylon braziletto is extracted.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, j_5 wherein wood of Caesalpinia sappan is extracted.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said plant material, especially wood, is extracted with a solvent selected from the following group, viz. water, low alcohols, diethyl ethers, high- 0 boiling ethers, aliphatic ketones, aliphatic hydro¬ carbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons or ethyl acetate.

16. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said plant material, especially wood, is extracted with water. 5 17. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said plant material, especially wood, is extracted with a boiling solvent for several hours.

18. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein several extracts isolated by extraction of 0 plant material from various plants belonging to the genus Caesalpinia are mixed with each other.

19. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said extract is enriched with a benz(b) indeno(2.1-di)pyran derivative represented by 5 the following general structural formula (I)

wherein

R, , R₂ and R may be the same or different, and represent 10 a hydrogen group, a low alkyl group, preferably methyl group, an acetyl group, a benzyl group, or R^ and ₂ together form a methylene group;

R-. and R_, may be the same of different, and represent a hydrogen group, hydroxyl group or acetyl group; ^"l5 R. represents a hydrogen group or an oxo group;

20 20. he method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said extract is enriched with a benz(b) indeno (2.1-d) yran derivative represented by the following general structural formula (II)

25

wherein i R-, and R- may be the same or different, and represent a hydrogen group, a low alkyl group, preferably methyl group, an acetyl group, a benzyl group, or R, and R. together form a methylene group;

R₃ and R_ may be the same of different, and represent a hydrogen grou , hydroxyl group or acetyl grou ; R. represents a hydrogen group or an oxo group; R represents a hydrogen group, a hydroxyl group, a low alkyl group, preferably methyl group, an acetyl group or a benzyl group; and represents a sihgle or a double bond

21. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said extract is enriched with brazilin and/or hematoxylin.

22. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said extract-which is optionally entriched-is formulated to an orally or rectally administrable dru-. 23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein capsules containing 100 to 700 mg of extract are produced. ' 24. The meth d as claimed in claim 22, wherein said capsules are produced with an extract content of approximately 250 mg.

25. A method of treating a patient suffering from

- micro-circulatory disorders,

- diabetes mellitus,

- increased blood sugar values, - increasing blood platelet aggregation,

- increased blood viscosity,

- decreased erythrocyte deformability,

- disorders of the lysosomal enzyme activity and/or suffering from - disorders of the prostaglandin metabolism, especially increasing thromboxane A_ activity by administering to said patent an effective amount of a medicine comprising as active ingredient an extract extractable from plant material of plants belonging to the genus Caesalpinia, one or several components of this extract, and/or one or several substances present in this extract or derived therefrom but prepared syntheti¬ cally for treating .one or more of said ailments. 26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein said active ingredient is a benz(b) indeno(2.1-d)pyran derivative represented by the following general structural formula (I)

wherein

R, , Rr Δs and Rb, may be the same or different, and represent a hydrogen group, a low alkyl group, preferably methyl group, an acetyl group, a benzyl group, or R, and R„ together form a methylene group;

R and R₇ may be the same or different, and represent a hydrogen group, hydroxyl group or acetyl group;

R. represents a hydrogen group or an oxo group;

R-. represents a hydrogen group, a hydroxyl grou , a low alkyl group, preferably methyl group, an acetyl group or a benzyl group ; and

27, The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein said active ingredient is a benz (b) indeno(2.1-d)pyran derivative represented by the following general structural formula (II)

wherein

R, and Rr may be the same or different, and represent a hydrogen group, a low alkyl group, preferably methyl group, an acetyl group, a benzyl group, or R, and R_fi together form a methylene group; R₃ and R- may be the same or different, and represent a hydrogen group, hydroxyl group or acetyl group; R. represents a hydrogen group or an oxo group; R- represents a hydrogen group, a hydroxyl group, a low alkyl group, preferably methyl group, an acetyl group or a benzyl group; and Represents a single or a double bond.

28. The method as claimed in claim 25,

29. The- method as^* claimed in claim 25, . wherein said active ingredient is hematoxylin and/or